 | Tumbling TimesNews From Circus Day FoundationIssue No. 3 —October, 2003 |
| Tumbling TimesNews From Circus Day FoundationIssue No. 3 —October, 2003 |
[Letter from Director] [St. Louis Arches] [Far East Meets Midwest II] [Extraordinary Honor] [OKAY AYCO!] [Summer Full of Circus] [Cirque in St. Louis] [Intern from the Intern-et] [UniverSoul comes to Us] [Africans from Six Flags] [Youth Circus Showcase: Our Flying Children] [Ta-Daaahhh!!!] [Patchwork Circus] [Circus Kaput is Anything But] [Be A Clown!] [Book Arches and Rent Space] [Thank Donors] [Incredible Chris Retires] [Juggling Class] [Circus Arts Haiku] [Clowning Class] [Join the Circus] [Wish List] [A Place Called Circus Day Center] [Our Mission Statement]
Dear Donors
Your donations are the lifeblood of the Circus Day Foundation. We are lucky that for many of the classes and shows we offer, we can get fees for our services. However, like so many cultural institutions, the costs for some of our innovative outreach programs outweigh our income. Does it sound odd that we consider circus arts cultural? Circus is actually one of the oldest art forms—dating back to at least 2400 BC!
We’ve truly had a high-flying year! We’ve taught circus to over 1,000 children and adults through a variety of our programs. More than 20,000 people have attended our shows at City Museum and other venues. The St. Louis Arches continue to be our bounciest ambassadors and took their talents to Houston, Texas and St. Paul, Minnesota, this year. Circus Salaam Shalom performed regularly at City Museum in July and is now part of our new Patchwork Circus. Patchwork is an open Circus Partnership for children from all backgrounds in the St. Louis area. Far East Meets Midwest II is slated for late February, after the tremendous success of Far East Meets Midwest I. Our St. Louis Community Circus Band is up and running. We held our first annual Youth Circus Showcase. We were a major part of the American Youth Circus Organization Festival 2003.
 Nathan, Junior & Matt fly at AYCO (photo by Jessica Hentoff) |
In just a few short years, we have become recognized as an organization that does indeed use circus arts to connect communities and inspire individuals. The title of a recent newspaper article about the Circus Day Foundation was “When You Fly, It Changes You.” Thanks to your donations, we have been teaching children to fly and thus truly fulfilling our mission to “help people defy gravity, soar with confidence, and leap over social barriers, all at the same time.”
Please tell your friends, families and neighbors about us, our work and our programs. Come see the Arches year ’round at City Museum, come see Patchwork Circus in December, Far East Meets Midwest II in February and our next Youth Circus Showcase and St. Louis Community Band concert next July. Help us continue to teach children to fly and soar above their boundaries!
Circusfully, Jessica Hentoff, Artistic/Executive Director
Our advanced youth circus troupe has been very busy all summer. In addition to their regular Friday and Saturday shows at City Museum, the Arches have made special appearances for the National Downs Syndrome Society, Parkway School District, the Rotary Club and other local groups and events. The Arches were once again part of Circus Flora’s performances, in June. They were honored to appear in this fantastic local treasure alongside such circus greats as the Flying Wallendas and the Dzhigit Riders. With Flora, the Arches did their Chinese Hoop Diving act and premiered a new, comedy tumbling and mini-trampoline routine.
 Circus Flora’s Dzhigit Riders pose with the Arches (photo by Jessica Hentoff) |
In July, the Arches really flew when they tried out the flying trapeze at Sacha Pavlata’s circus summer camp. In August, they put together a total juggling act for the St. Louis Juggling Club’s annual Union Station Juggling Showcase. The Arches were also honored by being invited to perform at the American Youth Circus Organization Festival in St. Paul, Minnesota where they were among the only groups asked to perform two acts for both Youth Circus Gala Shows. At the Festival, the Fabulous Flying St. Louis Arches debuted their daring dives over their new Fire Banner! For fall, it’s back to school and back to performing at City Museum only on Saturdays at 1 and 3. They will start working on Chinese vertical poles and are collaborating with the Osuwa Taiko Drummers and the St. Louis Modern Chinese School for Far East Meets Midwest II.
Our first Far East Meets Midwest was so well received, that we are currently working on Far East Meets Midwest II. This show brings together Asian and Midwestern arts and artists in a marvelous, multi-cultural, multi-generational presentation. Once again, we are collaborating with the amazing St. Louis Osuwa Taiko Drummers, Lion Dancers from the St. Louis Modern Chinese School, Amanat Karate’s Team Respect (with their new black light show!) and master Japanese top spinner, Hiroshi Tada. Far East Meets Midwest II is scheduled for February 29, 2004 for two shows, including a reception with the artists and a silent auction to benefit the Circus Day Foundation held between the shows.
We are looking for donations for the auction. Please call 314/436-7676 to donate an item. We are also looking for volunteer ushers and other help that day. Please let us know if you can donate your time for this exciting community-connecting event!
Sensational Cecilia Nadal’s Gitana Productions honored us this year by naming our Artistic/Executive Director, Jessica Hentoff, as their Deeds Beyond Race: Extraordinary Ordinary Person of the Year for her work promoting multi-cultural harmony in St. Louis. Gitana (pronounced HE TAH NA) is a St. Louis based production company which brings a global vision of music, dance and drama to our community. They believe that when different cultures collaborate creatively, the voice is amplified, magnanimous and a force for soul change. To this end, they produce an annual show and also run a campaign to identify ordinary citizens who perform extraordinary deeds, which bring diverse people together.
 Jessica accepts award from Gitana (photo courtesy St. Louis Chinese American News) |
The award was given at a beautiful concert that was coincidentally entitled Faces of Love: East Meets West and featured acclaimed Japanese contemporary violinist and composer Aska Kaneko, master pianist Vince Evans, renowned St. Louis jazz singer Denise Thimes and the dynamic Vivian Watts Dance Ensemble. Several of the Arches participated in the award ceremony and three of them even tried sushi at the reception. Gitana Productions was also kind enough to give us tickets, which we shared with Circus Day participants. We invite you to visit Gitana’s website at www.gitana-inc.org to learn more about this courageous company. We also encourage you to treat yourself by attending their events. They themselves do a lot to promote multi-cultural harmony and artistry in this city! We are thankful to Gitana Productions and to their Director, Cecilia Nadal for appreciating and acknowledging our work and our Director.
The American Youth Circus Organization (AYCO) held its bi-annual Festival at Circus Juventas in St. Paul, Minnesota in August. The Festival was attended by youth circus troupes from New Hampshire to San Francisco and many places in-between. There were two incredible gala performances, numerous circus workshops, a number of planning meetings on American youth circus issues and a great deal of showing and sharing between the attendees. The Circus Day Foundation was very well represented at this event! Our own fabulous, flying St. Louis Arches presented two numbers in the gala performances. These numbers were choreographed especially for this event. Global Juggling featured their rolling globe and juggling skills—including 6 year old Kellin eating an apple while juggling atop our 5-foot globe. As the Human Fireworks, the Arches demonstrated their exciting tumbling and mini-trampoline skills, ending with the new and daring dives over a fire banner!
 Circus Day Foundation to AYCO (photo by Jessica Hentoff) |
Donald Hughes, Joshua Routh and Richard Kennison, three of the Circus Day Foundation’s teachers, and April Zink, the Circus Day’s office manager and our St. Louis Community Circus Band leader, all conducted workshops at the Festival. In addition, Circus Day Foundation’s Artistic/Executive Director, Jessica Hentoff was the keynote speaker. Her address was on “Circus Connecting Communities” and can be viewed on the AYCO website at www.americanyouthcircus.org.
Thanks to Circus Day Treasurer, Patty Viverito, we were able to charter a bus at a great rate and attend the Festival in style. The bus made the trip a real team-building time for the Arches and also enabled us to transport and get better acquainted with other troupes at the Festival like Flying Gravity from New Hampshire, Cirque Kids from New York and Tryptic from the Circus Center in San Francisco. Thanks also to all who contributed to help pay for the trip—especially member Cate Ponder who sponsored two (!!!) Arches, the Regional Arts Commission who awarded us a Conference Travel Grant and the numerous individuals who contributed to our Pass-the-Hat campaign after all the Arches’ Museum shows this summer.
This summer saw Circus Day leading camps at the main campus of Center of Creative Arts (COCA), Urban Arts COCA and for Circus Flora’s Community Camp. We also held classes at Youth and Family Center and Bright Horizon Children’s Center. We provided instruction in Chinese circus skills for Families with Chinese Children at their Chinese Culture Day. But our most exciting day of the summer was the Saturday in July when we spent the morning giving circus workshops to 40 Girl Scouts, then worked with the Circus Salaam Shalom kids who then did a show for over 100 people. Following that, Circus Day provided eight teachers to share circus skills with eighty adolescents and adults at the National Down Syndrome Society Conference.
We truly made a lot of people’s day a Circus Day!
 Kellin & Cirque’s Victor Kee—jugglin’ (photo by Jessica Hentoff) | As you probably know, the famous Cirque Du Soleil performed in St. Louis at the end of the summer. Our sister company, everydaycircus, provided entertainment for the premiere party (which included Far East Meets Midwest’s Taiko drummers and master top spinner, Hiroshi Tada). The Arches were out of town at the AYCO Festival that night, but we did offer a special performance for the Cirque Du Soleil cast and crew at City Museum on Labor Day. The Arches were also the special guests of Cirque juggler, Victor Kee and clown, Guto, backstage at Cirque. Circus Day was also given 120 tickets to distribute to our class participants and teachers for the Cirque performance on 9/11. Thank you for your graciousness and inspiration, Cirque Du Soleil! |
Thanks to the wonders of the internet, we were discovered by Vassar student, Emilie Rosanvallon. She is developing a thesis with the subject of “Community Development Through Circus Arts.” As she studies us and the work we do, Emilie is also helping with some of the myriad tasks of running the Circus Day Foundation. Look for her debut performance in Circus Kaput!
 Emilie & UniverSoul Gabonese drummer (photo courtesy UniverSoul Circus) |
August was indeed circus month in St. Louis. Tent-rousing UniverSoul Circus was in town and paid us a visit. UniverSoul is the only African-American owned and operated circus in the country. Parade Magazine raved: “It rocks, it amazes, it teaches kids positive values—and it’s packing them in...The tent almost rocked from the swaying, dancing and clapping of the audience. At UniverSoul Circus, everybody gets down.” They brought three acts to perform in our ring and interact with the Arches. Visiting us, were their dynamic double-Dutch jump rope act from Brooklyn, the Gabonese African acrobats and a remarkable Cuban contortionist. The best part of the visit was when the Gabonese drummers went down the three story slide with their drums in their laps and yelling all the way down! UniverSoul was also kind enough to donate tickets for the Arches to see their show. Look for UniverSoul again next year at Northland Plaza and experience their unique combination of hip-hop and big top!
We were also treated to a visit by the Mapapa African Acrobats from Kenya. The Arches never get enough of being turned upside down, so we took them to what has become our annual, fun field trip to Six Flags. While there, we were lucky enough to watch and meet this talented, upbeat troupe. This wild group of young men juggled and flipped with the Arches and then enjoyed exploring the twists and turns of City Museum.
Our Donor Appreciation Party also turned out to be our First Annual Youth Circus Showcase (thanks for the free ad, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Community Matters!). The audience was enchanted by performances from the St. Louis Arches, Circus Salaam Shalom and our new Patchwork Circus! They came from different parts of St. Louis. They walked on giant balls. They hung from steel bars. They actually flew!
Scenes From Circus Salaam Shalom: | |
 Dwayne carries Reis across the tightwire (photo by Jeane Vogel) |  Samantha, Niyah & Maggie on the triple trapeze (photo by Jeane Vogel) |
These awe-inspiring young people from several of Circus Day’s programs showed you, our delightful donors, how your financial support is teaching children new ways to support themselves (like hanging by their ankles!) and each other (like standing on someone's shoulders!). This day marked the final performance for our groundbreaking Circus Salaam Shalom. The Jewish and Muslim children who wish to continue will fold into our new Patchwork Circus.
Next year, we hope some of our school and camp groups will be part of our Youth Circus Showcase. The following year we hope to go regional and to be able to extend invitations to some other Midwestern youth circus troupes like Chicago’s CircEsteem and St. Paul’s Circus Juventas!
Our Donor Appreciation Party/Youth Circus Showcase was also the scene for the debut of our melodious and euphonious St. Louis Community Circus Band under the direction of the woman who keeps our office in tune, April Zink. This multi-generational band with members from all over St. Louis, displayed marvelous musicianship as they played the tuneful tempos of traditional circus music. Stay tuned for their next performance. Also note, we are always looking for additional band members and donations of band instruments. Contact April at 314/436-7676 for more info!
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Band members Anne-Flute & Travis-Tuba (photos by Jessica Hentoff) | |
Circus Day has created a new youth circus troupe called the Patchwork Circus. The name “Patchwork” was chosen because the participants will be like the pieces of a quilt—each piece different with its own history coming together to form a beautiful and unique work of art. The Patchwork Circus started as a combination of two of our Circus Partnerships—Circus Salaam Shalom and the Adams Park Community Center Circus. Our goal is to seek out children from throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area who would not normally have the opportunity—even though they might have the ability—to take circus classes. We will purposefully bring children together from different backgrounds that would not normally cross paths to be part of this newly formed circus community. Come see their show at City Museum on December 13th!
Did you see that man with the woman standing on his head at the Donor Appreciation Party? Perhaps you saw him leading our circus camp classes at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), this summer? We certainly hope you caught his creative confluence of food and circus known as the Last Minute Circus and Gourmet Dinner Theater at Orlando’s Banquet Center. That’s Joshua Routh, the new and energetic circus performer & teacher who has moved to St. Louis from San Francisco to work with us. Josh’s latest project uses most of Circus Day’s teachers along with some of our youth performers to form a core company and a show that you’ll be hearing a lot more of in the near future! Keep your eyes open for Circus Kaput!
We offer classes on clowning, juggling, magic and basic circus skills. You can come to us or we can bring the circus to you. Call 314/436-7676 for more information or to arrange a class!
Don’t forget, the everydaycircus area at City Museum makes a great place to hold a holiday (or any) party. Also, the Arches are the best family entertainment in town! To book the space, the Arches or any of our talented teacher/performers, call everydaycircus at 314-645-4445.
We gratefully acknowledge and appreciate the support of our donors including: Trio Foundation of St. Louis, Whitaker Foundation, Regional Arts Commission, Missouri Arts Council, DCA Family Foundation, City Museum, Arts and Education Council, Cardinals Care, AmerenUE and all the individuals who support the Circus Day Foundation!
We are also (like all non-profits) always looking for more support. Please pass our information along to anyone in the private or corporate sector that you think might be interested in building character in individuals and building bridges between communities using circus arts!
 L to R: Richard, Keaton, Junior, Kellin, Elliana & Shaina at Busch Stadium to accept a grant from Cardinals Care (photo by Jessica Hentoff) |
How would you like to retire at the prime age of 24? No, that’s not a mistake or even a typographical error. Our very own Chris Ross has announced his retirement from the St. Louis Arches. After 14 years of bouncing around St. Louis, his farewell performance was October 4, 2003 at 3 PM at everydaycircus. Celebrated by family, friends and students that he has taught through Circus Day Foundation, he “bounced his last bounce” as one of the St. Louis Arches.
 (photo by Jessica Hentoff) |
But wait—don’t send him off to some comfortable pier to fish away his idle hours—no way! The Incredible Christopher is a performing member of Circus Kaput! We wish Chris all the best, but will all miss his leadership within the St. Louis Arches.
  | Juggling ClassBalls, rings, clubs & more!Mondays 7-8:30 PM$60 for 4 classes (with an option to continue) |
Register in advance | Call: 314-436-7676 |
| Clowning ClassIt’s more than floppy shoes and a red nose!Thusdays 5-6:30 PM$60 for 4 classes (with an option to continue) |
Register in advance | Call: 314-436-7676 |
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The day the circus came to town used to be a once-a-year experience, but imagine this, an entire building with high ceilings, an animal ring and lots of practice space: the Circus Day Center would bring the feeling of the day the circus comes to town—the joy, the wonder, the excitement—every day! Circus Day Center would have everything the circus has from the acrobats and animals to the amazing aerialists. The difference is that at Circus Day Center you don’t just go to watch. You are part of it.
Circus Day Center would be a year ’round, full-time facility where children of all ages and backgrounds would come to stretch themselves physically, emotionally and socially. The goals of the Circus Day Center would be to use circus arts to actively and artfully demonstrate that children can do amazing things both physically and socially while they grow emotionally. Circus Day Foundation has decided to open this center because we find circus to be the most boundary-crossing, across-the-board appealing art form that we know of.
Currently, Circus Day Foundation operates out of the everydaycircus space on the third floor of City Museum. This space, although it serves as an excellent showcase for the youth circus troupes and programs the Circus Day Foundation sponsors, is too small to really accommodate all the projects, classes and possibilities that we would like to realize. Also, while it would primarily be the home of the Circus Day Foundation, the Circus Day Center could also house related arts and animal activities—puppetry, Comedia D’el Arte, therapeutic horsemanship programs. We would still have our young performers appear in the everydaycircus ring at City Museum but an entire facility would allow us to bring in horses and to expand some of our other programs. Please contact us if you would like to help build a place where every day would feel like the day the circus came to town.
The Circus Day Foundationteaches the art of life through circus education. We work to build character and expand community for youth of all ages, cultures, abilities and backgrounds. Through teaching and performance of circus skills, we help people defy gravity, soar with confidence and leap over social barriers, all at the same time. |